Components of EV Charging Station: Understanding the Infrastructure

Technological evolution has led to the introduction of EVs in the market. Using these vehicles, you can play your part in cutting carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses in the environment. This has raised concern among various drivers to adopt EVs. But when it comes to adoption, their smooth working on the roads depends on the EV charging stations.

Imagine if you are on a long trip and your EV requires charging. This urges the need for EV charging stations. Therefore, both for EV charging station owners and EV owners. It is essential to get insights into each of the components and their functioning. This way, you can master the Usage of the EV charging station and cater to self-service.

This article aims to introduce you to each of the components and their role in EV charging stations. This way, you can enhance your EV charging system life and vehicle by choosing the right and compatible solution. Are you curious and want to know more? Let’s begin the ride!

We also mentioned EV Charging Station Voltage: Specifications, Compatibility, and Considerations in our previous article. If it is helpful to you, you can click here to read it.

EV Charging Station – What is It?

You can define an EV charging station as an infrastructure or charging point. The main role of this point is to cater to the charging and energy needs of EVs. The EV charging stations have different forms and types. The EV charging station types include the Level 1 Charger, Level 2 Charger, and the DC Fast Charger. You can choose anyone depending on the speed you want to charge your EV.

Components That Make Up The EV Charging Station Infrastructure

Many components play a key role in making up the EV charging station. Some of the key components include:

Charging Unit

The charging unit refers to the heart of the EV charging station. The main role of the EV charging unit is to transmit the energy or power to the vehicle battery. Many components make up the charging unit. The key ones include the electrical circuit and components.

They play a vital role in controlling the process of charging. Charging unit benefits include proper energy management, coping with safety, and tweaking the charging speed. The charging unit is the EV charging station’s brain. It controls the energy reserves and supplies power depending on vehicle capability.  

Connectors

You can define a connector as the physical interface that establishes the link between the EV and the charging unit. It is a bridge through which the electricity passes through the station to the charge port. There are many types of connectors present in the market. Each of the types caters to specific vehicles and charging requirements.

The shape and size of each connector and the number of points/pins are various. Each EV supports a different type of connector and power output along with. So, getting familiar with the connectors helps you stay on the right side. 

Connector Types

The key types of the connectors are:

• CCS (Combined charging system) (Type 1/ Type 2)
• J1772 (Type 1)
• CHAdeMO
• Tesla
• GB/T (AC/DC)

The CCS (Combined Charging System) Type 1 works effectively with the DC fast chargers. These chargers can support a power of 360 kW. You can find these connectors in South Korea, USA, and Canada. 

On the other hand, the CCS Type 2 connector is also compatible with the DC fast charger. You can put it on three-phase input, and it can supply up to 360kW. You can easily find these chargers in Africa, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and the UK. 

J1772 works best with the AC input. You can set up these connectors with the 120 V input source. These chargers can offer you a power output of 1.92kW. They are popular in the USA, Canada, and Japan. 

CHAdeMO is also a connector that uses three-phase input and works well for DC fast chargers. The power output of these chargers is 400kW. This charger was widely adopted in Japan in older times. 

The Tesla connector works well with the AC and the DC source. You can install these chargers on three-phase or single-phase. The maximum power output you can harness with these chargers is 250kW.

The GB/T connectors are popular only in China. The AC type supports the input current of 250 V and offers an output power of 7.4kW. The DC type employs the input power of 440 Volts, and results in the output power of 237.5 kW. These are compatible with the DC fast chargers. 

Cables

The cables refer to the power transmission medium. They take the current from the charger to the EV through connectors. Cables play a crucial role and add to the EV charging system to withstand rough and tough usage. These cables can handle very large amounts of currents. This way, indirectly, they lead to the rapid charging of your EV. 

These cables feature proper insulation to prevent any accident and injury. The cables feature a material to prevent power loss and ensure higher transmission efficiency. Cables are crucial to keep your EV on the move. 

PDU (Power Distribution Unit)

PDU is the EV charging station’s CNS (Central Nervous System). The main function of this component is to ensure uniform electricity flow and optimum level of charging. Thus, this component ensures the safety of the other components in the series.

This is highly effective in stations featuring the installation of multiple chargers. The PDU supplies the exact amount of energy and power per each charger’s requirement. Using a PDU, the EV charging station owners can ensure the effective follow-up of the national and set standards. 

User Interface/Digital Display

The latest in tech and advanced charging stations feature a digital user interface. They intuitively display every function and parameter of the EV charging system on the LED screen. The users can interact with this screen and set the charging per their requirements. Users can also monitor the level of charging through the display.

While using the digital interactive display, you will not experience any lagging or delay. Instead, you can quickly cope with the charging operation. What you can see on the digital display includes the following:

• Realtime charging progress
• Levels of battery charging
• Estimated Completion time

Using the display, you can enjoy the customized charging experience for your EV. You can speed up the charging process or utilization of the energy. Apart from this, you can pay using the digital display. This ensures an effective and encrypted payment transfer. No one can steal your details or data. This ensures security during the usage process. 

Integrated Payment System

The various EV charging stations feature integrated payment systems. There are various types and forms of payment that a charging station can support. Some of the key payment system that you can retrieve includes:

• Cash
• Mastercard
• RFID
• Network App
• Cheque
• Visa
• American Express

Different EV charging stations support different types of systems. Some stations support multiple means of payment received. At these stations, you can choose any means to complete your payment. These payment systems lead you to experience convenient and hassle-free payment transfers. 

Safety Aspects of EV Station

The EV charging station features multiple safety aspects that ensure smooth and error-free operation. There are multiple safety aspects you find like these:

• The emergency shut-off button lets you cut off the power supply from the source to the EV chargers. You can ensure the safety and prevent yourself and your vehicle from any undesirable thing happening.
• Various EV chargers allow you to experience ground fault protection. You can avoid the electric shock experience this way. This system detects electricity faults and immediately disconnects the power, thus ensuring safety and security.
• Another safety aspect is associated with the temperature. The temperature is a critical factor when it comes to the EV charging. Sensors play a great role in keeping the temperature within a specific range and preventing overheating. They also shut off the system if necessary.

Communication Management System

 The communication management system has multiple roles, such as:

• You can monitor the charging stations remotely. This way, you can keep an eye on the operators and performance of the EV charging station. 
• You can control the charging schedules, rates, and other parameters using the management system. This way, you can minimize the downtime of your EV charging station.
• The communication management system collects the data for your analyses. This includes station performance, charging duration, power consumption, and other stats. 

Supporting Structure

The supporting structure of the EV charging station plays a key role in setting up your charging station. This includes the physical structure like beams, posts, shade, etc. The beams support the shade and go into the ground. The posts aid in setting up the EV chargers. 

This also refers to the mounting structure. Using this structure, you can elongate the life of your EV charging station. You can protect it and the users from the rain and bright sunlight. 

Final Words

Now you know everything about each of the components of the EV charging station. If you will set up the new EV station, this guide will help you. Knowing the role and function of each component allows you to set up your EV charging station. Embark on your journey with Piwinev Charging today to experience the practicality firsthand. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below or reach out if you require further assistance.

You can do this in a way that can support you in the future for upscaling. Get started with this guide today to witness the practicality. Comment your thoughts below or seek out assistance in this regard.

Related Reading：Buying EV Charging Stations from China: Guidelines, Considerations, and Import Process